The Victimization of Black America: from Slavery to Self-inflicted Gunshot

Since the arrival of the first Africans to the Americas in the 17th century, the scourge of chattel slavery and the lasting effects left a deep, hardened footprint in American history.  Although many acknowledge it, most won’t own the fact that slavery has set the tone for citizenry and class in the United States.  Although many White Americans will proclaim their admiration for the founding fathers of America, the fact that those founding fathers strongly supported slavery is conveniently glossed over with the common, “I know that happened but it was a long time ago and it has nothing to do with me.”  Convenient, perhaps.  Denial maybe but definitely ignorance.  Several things have happened since the Emancipation Proclamation beginning with the Reconstruction era and the introduction of Jim Crow.  Separate but equal opportunities.  Although this was stated, it was seldom allowed to exist.  When Black communities attempted, economically and culturally self sufficient societies, they were opposed oft times with violence.  The Garvey Movement, Black Wall Street in Oklahoma and Rosewood, Florida are just to name few examples of success stories before they were destroyed by violent racists. The fight for integration ensued in the form of education,voting rights, housing, employment, etc. We could go on about how racism has hobbled the Black community to the point of paralysis but that would be too easy and too obvious.  To place blame on the oppressive race machine and claim victim is a natural response.  When someone does you wrong, you can always point to that as the reason for your shortcomings right? Well, Africa America, it doesn’t work like that.  While we cannot and should not dismiss the mistreatment and unfair systems that Blacks have experienced in America, progress within the Black community has to be controlled by those within the community.  There are several elements that can be controlled beyond claiming victim.  They have to be explored and implemented on individual and household basis before it can perpetuate through a neighborhood and, ultimately, into the geographic culture.  These elements are simple but easier said than done.  There are several foundational points that we will discuss at a later time.  For this exercise, we will use this three:  1. Education and Learning.  2. Get legal and stay legal.  3.Community  Collectiveism and Accountability. Let’s explore.

Education and learning is the linchpin to any successful community.  Fostering and stimulating a child’s ability to learn begins with the first teachers in the household.  Pay attention to your own habits and take stock of your own values and attitudes toward your family, community and the world.  These are passed on to your children and outside into your streets.  The victim allows the outside to define and dictate the education and learning on the inside.  You MUST become active in your children’s schools and youth activities.  Form alliances and bonds with education professionals.  remember, they are assisting YOU in raising your children, not the other way around.  Coach little league or coordinate dance companies.  If you don’t know how, ask somebody.  Walk into a church or community center that you aren’t familiar with and identify resources that they may have.

The next one, critical and crucial.  Get legal and stay legal.  It should be the goal of every 15 year old to start trying to get a driver’s license.  Doesn’t matter if they own a car or not but it the beginning of self-sufficiency and professional possibilities in an already competitive world.  At 18, register to vote and then VOTE!  Your voice is essential in the selection and accountability of officials entrusted to manage your lives and neighborhood.  Victimization can easily creep into this category if you are not legal.  The prison system is filled with victims and free labor (sounds like the 17 century again, huh?).  And, yes, race probably has a lot to do with the disproportionate numbers of persons of color in there as well as the sentences they serve.  But we should never have to protest about the low-level crack or weed dealer gets more time in prison than the kingpin.  You know how you get around that?  Don’t sell crack or weed.  I could be oversimplifying but don’t sell CRACK OR WEED!  Why do people sell it?  “Shit, I’m tryna get paid.  How else would I get Jordans.  Ain’t nothing else for me to do.  This is where I’m from.  This is how it’s done.”  Victim… self inflicted gunshot victim.

Cooperativeism and Accountability is being your brother’s keeper.  Being the eyes and ears of health, safety, welfare and opportunity for your children and your neighbors.  This will range from community policing to neighborhood tutoring, entrepreneurial think tanks to community gardening.  There’s a lot more to be said about this but for brevity’s sake we will keep it simple.

Although we discussed the Black community in America and a very basic history lesson (please follow-up on my information and validate for yourself as this is a blog so i didn’t cite), it could apply to any community regardless of race and, honestly, class (that means ALL communities regardless of race, culture and ethnicity).

The purpose of this blog was to, by no means, diminish the word “victim.”  We are well aware of the tragedies of victims be it murder, rape, abuse, etc.  These are acts perpetrated on prey.  Your community is not prey regardless of how many may feel.  Truth be told, there is a war going on.  A war in our households, our streets, our schools and our public agencies.  Aspire to be an intellectual warrior and a sentinel.  If you must go down, it’s always better to go down as a casualty for a cause to save your community as opposed to living as a victim hiding from random bullets that seem to have everyone’s name on it when it crashes through your living room window and lodges itself into your 6 year old’s skull.  If you are quiet and not doing anything to change or ensure the safety and welfare of your community, you may as well have pulled the trigger.